Chapter 21: At This Moment, Lu Shujin’s Mind Was Blank

Liu Quan’s face turned a deep red-purple as he was beaten ruthlessly. Amidst his struggle, the intense pain in his right arm made him scream endlessly. He cursed loudly, “Xiao Jin, you are going back on your word! What kind of man are you?”

“What are you talking about?” Xiao Jin raised an eyebrow in confusion. “When did I ever say I would let you go?”

“If it weren’t for your instructions, how would Lu Shujin have known about that side door?” Liu Quan angrily questioned.

“It was my own idea,” Lu Shujin said, looking at him. “I only mentioned that you could leave through the side door. That didn’t mean you could escape.”

Her initial thought was that the guards Xiao Jin brought were all tall, strong men. Given that Liu Quan was already injured, even if he got a half-street head start, Xiao Jin’s guards would still be able to catch him.

But now it seemed that Xiao Jin had even placed guards outside the Yuhua Pavilion, which was why Liu Quan was immediately captured the moment he stepped out.

Lu Shujin also saw that Qing Wu, who had run out earlier, was among those captured. Her anxiety and resentment were swept away, replaced by an unprecedented calm. Even though the wound on her neck was still hard to bear, it did not show on her face. She sat quietly, covering the wound. Her dark gray clothing was slightly disheveled, but under the brilliant lights, her fair skin stood out, and her dark eyebrows and eyes looked exceptionally delicate.

Liu Quan immediately cursed, “Lu Shujin, you dog’s son, how dare you—”

Before he could finish, Xiao Jin struck him on the mouth with his closed fan, making Liu Quan howl in pain.

The strike was instinctive, and even Xiao Jin was startled. He quickly lowered his head to check if the fan was damaged, muttering, “It’s broken, it’s broken. That hit was too hard. This is Ji Shuoting’s prized possession…”

Liu Quan’s lips and teeth ached numbly, and his chubby face twisted in a grotesque grimace.

Xiao Jin found the sight unpleasant and waved his hand. “Stuff his mouth and toss him aside.”

The guards shoved a cloth into Liu Quan’s mouth, making him mumble incoherently as they dragged him to the back.

Soon, Qing Wu and Xing’er were brought forward. Qing Wu showed no fear, glaring at Xiao Jin, clearly resenting his dishonesty.

Feeling the need to explain, Xiao Jin said, “I only said you could leave Yuhua Pavilion, never that I would let you go.”

Who knew what kind of look he gave, but one of the guards immediately kicked the back of Qing Wu’s knee, forcing the tall man to kneel. Xiao Jin nodded in satisfaction. “Now you look more pleasing to the eye.”

At this point, Qing Wu had no choice but to surrender. “Xing’er is innocent. I beg Young Master Xiao to spare her.”

Xiao Jin sneered, sat at the other side of the table, and took out a stack of silver banknotes he had prepared. He looked at the tear-streaked Xing’er and said, “Miss Xing’er, here are one thousand taels. Do you want them?”

Xing’er was stunned. “What?”

Lu Shujin wanted to turn her head to look, but the wound on her neck made it impossible. She could only shift her whole body halfway to face Xiao Jin.

She thought to herself that he couldn’t be foolish enough to give money away for nothing.

Sure enough, his next words were, “But you can only choose between your lover and these thousand taels. If you choose the money, he dies. If you choose him, I will let you both go.”

Lu Shujin instinctively observed Xing’er’s expression.

A thousand taels—enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life. She could invest in a business or marry into a decent family, living out her days in peace.

Yet Lu Shujin believed that the choice on the table was not just about a thousand taels. It was Xiao Jin offering a discreet opportunity—if Xing’er followed this path, she might even find her way into the Xiao family’s back courtyard.

Lu Shujin often heard stories of wealthy young masters keeping a host of mistresses.

Of course, Xiao Jin was also doing this to humiliate Qing Wu.

Xing’er’s longing for the thousand taels was obvious, though she still seemed hesitant, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at Qing Wu. Her not-so-large eyes were like autumn waters filled with hidden emotions, evoking pity.

Xiao Jin noticed her hesitation but did not urge her. He leaned comfortably in his chair, watching the drama unfold.

“Xing’er.” Qing Wu gazed at her, his eyes filled with hope and pleading. He whispered, “Whatever you want, I will give it to you.”

Xing’er gently shook her head, her tears still clinging to her lashes, filled with helplessness. “I dare not dream of love.”

Upon hearing this, Qing Wu was clearly unable to accept the outcome. He struggled, but the guards held him firmly. “Xing’er! It’s just a thousand taels. I can find a way to make a fortune in the future, giving you silk, satin, fine clothes, and rich food! Why not choose me?!”

Xiao Jin found this amusing. Smiling, he put away the silver notes and replaced them with a silver ingot. “I’ve thought it over. His worthless life isn’t worth a thousand taels—at most, it’s worth ten taels. You may choose again.”

Lu Shujin quietly observed Xing’er. This time, she didn’t hesitate as much as before and quickly replied, “I do not wish to change my choice.”

She didn’t even glance at Qing Wu.

Qing Wu’s eyes turned bloodshot, as if they were about to bleed, staring intently at Xing’er.

“See? You are worth less than ten taels,” Xiao Jin mocked him mercilessly. “You were willing to die for her, but she never cared. Do you think you’re some kind of hero? You strutted around just now, but you’re nothing but mud trampled in the dirt—a pathetic wretch.”

His words were ruthless, like a knife stabbing into Qing Wu’s heart. Being abandoned by his beloved for ten taels and then mocked so cruelly shattered his dignity. He let out a piercing, mad scream.

Xiao Jin raised his chin, and the guards immediately grabbed Qing Wu’s jaw with a loud crack, dislocating it.

“I am a man of my word,” Xiao Jin said, his voice cold. “Since she chose the silver, your life is forfeit. You abducted four women into Yuhua Pavilion. Two refused to submit—one was beaten to death, and the other swallowed soil to end her life.” His handsome smile had a hint of cruelty. “So I will pass judgment on this case on behalf of the authorities—let you experience the feeling of having your bones shattered and choking on soil.”

With a wave of his hand, the guards dragged Qing Wu straight to the back courtyard.

Lu Shujin had been watching the whole time, silently. She had initially planned to angrily scold Qing Wu, to vent her resentment, but she hadn’t expected Xiao Jin to know the situation better than she did—he even knew how many girls Qing Wu had abducted and how they met their tragic fates.

Seeing Qing Wu abandoned by his lover and suffering a brutal death brought Lu Shujin a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Perhaps she wasn’t a good person either—she even hoped Xing’er would meet a bad end too.

Lost in thought, she suddenly saw Xiao Jin take out five small silver ingots and place them on the table. Back when Lu Shujin wrote essays for him, one page would earn her one of these ingots—each worth one tael of silver.

Xiao Jin placed five taels on the table, pointed at Lu Shujin, and asked Xing’er, “Between her and these five taels, which do you choose?”

At that moment, Lu Shujin’s mind went blank. Her face showed utter shock as she looked at Xiao Jin with confusion.

Xing’er, who had chosen silver over her lover so quickly, now made her choice even faster. She immediately picked the silver.

Xiao Jin leaned halfway over the table, moving closer to Lu Shujin and whispered, “See? Courtesans are heartless. No matter how much effort you put in, you won’t even catch their eye. You’re even cheaper than that fool—you’re only worth five taels.”

Lu Shujin’s brows furrowed tightly. It felt like Xiao Jin was humiliating her, just like he had humiliated Qing Wu. But as she looked at his five raised fingers and his serious expression, she felt he was genuinely trying to persuade her.

Seeing her face darken, Xiao Jin thought for a moment and carefully rephrased his words, lowering his voice even more as he whispered by her ear, “I don’t mean you’re cheap. It’s just that women in this line have many concerns. They prioritize securing a stable life after leaving the brothel, then consider the status of their future husband. You’re just a mere scholar right now, with only eight taels and seven hundred coins in your possession. Not that I’m mocking you for being poor—there’s an old saying: ‘Never look down on a young man who is poor.’ It’s she who is short-sighted. At least now, you can set your mind at ease, focus on your studies, and aim for the top ranks in the imperial exams…”

“What are you trying to say?” Lu Shujin’s confusion deepened. Her little face scrunched up as she interrupted him.

“I’m saying you should give up on redeeming her,” Xiao Jin finally clarified, closely watching her expression as if worried she would be upset.

“Of course, I won’t redeem her.” Lu Shujin found him completely absurd, as if he had gone mad again. “I don’t even know her.”

“What?!” Xiao Jin suddenly straightened in his seat, looking shocked. “Didn’t you say you wanted to redeem someone from Yuhua Pavilion?”

“That’s right. Her name is Yang Peier. She was tricked here by Qing Wu. She is my neighbor in the rental courtyard in the northern part of the city and treats me like her younger brother.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Why would I lie to you?” Lu Shujin gave him a strange look, then stood up. “She was knocked unconscious just now. I have to go check on her.”

With that, she got up and went to the northern corner to find Yang Peier, leaving Xiao Jin alone, looking bewildered.

Actually, the trick of making Xing’er choose between silver and a person was initially meant for Lu Shujin. It was to wake Lu Shujin up from the delusion of love and keep from going astray.

But he never expected that he had completely misunderstood from the start. Lu Shujin had no intention of redeeming a courtesan but was trying to save someone.

Xiao Jin’s fingers lightly tapped the table unconsciously as his thoughts became a tangled mess.

He should have known—Lu Shujin, who came to the school daily to read and write, whose face turned red, and who couldn’t even lift his head when someone mentioned a charming widow, could never be infatuated with a courtesan.

He was lost in thought, then suddenly chuckled softly.

At that moment, a guard pushed open the door and brought the doctor’s report. Xiao Jin stood up, about to lead the doctor toward Lu Shujin, when he heard Xing’er call out from behind, “Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Jin turned around, and Xing’er bowed slightly, speaking softly, “Where will your servant take us from now on?”

“Where will you go?” Xiao Jin seemed to think seriously for a moment. “Of course, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.”

Xing’er’s expression changed drastically; all the coyness vanished from her face. She asked in shock, “Young Master Xiao, why would you say such a thing? I am pure and clean, haven’t done anything to harm heaven or man!”

“Do you really think I don’t know anything?” Xiao Jin stood sideways, his tall figure lit by the elegant lamps, half of his face shadowed in darkness. His finely drawn brows curved with a smile, his handsome face looking exceptionally charming. His voice was low and calm: “Besides Qing Wu, there are two other men who want to redeem you. They agreed with the madam to trick five women in here, then you could be redeemed. You’re covered in blood—how can you still claim to be innocent?”

“But in this brothel, I am also not free; my life is like drifting duckweed. How could I control those things?” Xing’er trembled, tears streaming down her cheeks, looking pitiful enough to stir anyone’s heart.

Xiao Jin completely ignored her explanation, snorted, shook his fan, and swaggered away, shouting, “Lu Shujin, come check the injury! Why are you holding that woman’s hand? Don’t you know men and women shouldn’t touch each other?”

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